China has extended its support to the Arab League's proposals for ending the violence in Syria, a striking show of support just two weeks after Beijing vetoed a UN Security Council resolution backing the League's plans. The seemingly contradictory stances on the Arab League's proposals appear to reflect Beijing's desire for mediation but aversion to UN involvement that could lead to authorizing force, as happened with Libya. China conveyed its support for the Arab League's proposals in a statement posted late Saturday on the Foreign Ministry's website. That followed a meeting earlier in the day in Dam ascus between Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad. The statement quoted Zhai as telling Assad that China was willing to work with the Syrian government and opposition, the Arab League and Arab countries to find a solution. “China supports all the mediation efforts by the Arab League to find a political solution to the Syrian crisis and calls upon relevant parties to increase communication and negotiations to find a peaceful and appropriate solution to the Syrian crisis within the framework of the Arab League and on the basis of the Arab League's relevant political solution proposals,” Zhai was quoted as saying. The change in Chinese stance came as Egypt said it was withdrawing its ambassador to Syria. Its decision follows moves by Tunisia, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab nations to reduce ties with Damascus. The West has ruled out any Libya-style military intervention but the Arab League has indicated some of its members were prepared to arm the opposition, which includes the rebel Free Syrian Army. Meanwhile, British Foreign Minister William Hague reiterated that view on Sunday, telling the BBC: “We cannot intervene in the way we did in Libya ... we will do many other things.” “I am worried that Syria is going to slide into a civil war and that our powers to do something about it are very constrained because, as everyone has seen, we have not been able to pass a resolution at the UN Security Council because of Russian and Chinese opposition.” A leading Syrian businessman, Faisal Al-Qudsi, said the government was slowly disintegrating and sanctions were ruining the economy. He told the BBC in London military action could only last six months but Al-Assad's government would fight to the end.
